Troopship type airplane seat structure



Aug. 10, 1954 R. B. EVANS El AL TROOPSHIP TYPE AIRPLANE SEAT STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 20 1951 j//5 INVENTOR-5. gaierz 5257 4/15, L i ZlZa BY Aug. 10, 1954 R. B. EVANS El AL 2,685,912

T SE T STRUCTURE I N V EN TORS, 7918/"2 ,5 17/4/75, 51([4 )Z Ala/7774- Aug. 10, 1954 R. B. EVANS -r AL TROOPSHIP TYPE AIRPLANE SEAT STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 20 1951 I'll'lll l llllll ZilKENTORj 0 er 1 /75, ZZlZa M Na'flzf-i.

0, 1954 R. B. EVANS El AL 2,685,912

TROOPSHIP TYPE AIRPLANE SEAT STRUCTURE Filed Juhe 20, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS. Faidrf ,5. 51 4/75, f zz Z0 M Na 4.

Patented Aug. 10, 1954 UNITED STA'i TROOPSHIP TYEE AIRPLANE SEAT STRUCTURE Robert B. Evans, Grosse Pointe Shores, and S1110 Michael Nampa, Detroit, Mich, assignors to Evans Products Company, Plymouth, Mich, a

corporation of Delaware Application June 20, 1951, Serial No. 232,536

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to seat structures and is particularly directed to the provision of improved seat structures having flexible back and seat portions and being readily foldable and removable and constructions which can be convertibly used asbeds, bunks, or litters and as multiple seats. The present application is related to the inventors copending application, Serial No. 223,976, filed May 1, 1951, which, in turn, is related to application Serial No. 554,203, now Patent No. 2,556,076.

Principal objects of the invention are to provide constructions of the above type, which are extremely simple in. construction, economical of manufacture and assembly, and light in weight, which are readily convertible as aforesaid and which may be readily installed in and removed from associated structures, such for example as transport aircraft; to provide such constructions which, when utilized as a bed, afford a surface of desirable width and which, when utilized as a seat, provide a seat of desirably less depth; to provide such constructions which define a longitudinally extending bed surface, having spaced side rails and which further definea plurality of seat backs which extend upwardly from the bed surface in the region adjacent one of the rails; to provide such constructions in which the seat backs are secured to the seat surface at points between the aforesaid rails, whereby to afford the aforesaid difference between the effective width of the structure as a bed and the effective depth of each of the seats afforded by the structure; to provide such constructions wherein the seat backs can conveniently be released from associated upper supports and be folded down, in

converting the structure to a bed; to provide such constructions wherein each seat back is of sufficient height to support the head as well as the back of the occupant; to provide such constructions in which the upper ends of the backs are supported by a rail common thereto, said back railand one of the aforesaid seat rails being removably secured to the supporting structure, and the remaining seat railbeing provided with legs which are detachably engageable with" the floor of the associated structure; to provide such constructions in which the seat can be folded up against the backs and. in which thelegs are adjustable relative toxthe. associated front rail so that they do not protrude when the seat is folded; to. provide such structures in which the spacing between the aforesaid side railsis maintained by-spreaders of improved, construction; to provide such constructions employing safetybelts v of the general type used in aircraft practice, but

having an improved connection to the seat structure; and to generally improve and simplify the construction and arrangement of structures of the above type.

With the above as well as other and in certain cases more detailed objects in view, preferred but illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, throughout the several views of which corresponding reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of an embodiment of the invention;

, Fig. 1A is a fragmentary view of a variant of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showing the structure of Fig. l in the folded position; 7

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing an alternative supporting structure for the structure of Figs. 1 and 2; g

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in horizontal trans verse section, of the seat structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating details of the leg structures;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view showinga releasable connection between a leg structure and a floor fitting;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary viewwin perspective of a P modified embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of a further modification of the invention.

It will be appreciatedfrom a complete understanding of the present invention that, in the broader aspects, the improvements thereof may be utilized in widely differing seat and/orbed constructions and/or convertible constructions, intended for widely differing types of service and/or association with widely differing structures. Further, in'a generic sense, certain of the present improvements can be utilized independently of others'of such improvements.

A preferred but illustrative application of the invention, is in providing convertible seat and. bed structures for use in aircraft of the transport type; and more particularly in those instances where it is desired that the seat and bed struc tures' shall be readily removable from and in stallable in the airplane structure, as well as being foldable or otherwise collapsible so that, when not in use., the structuresv donot interfere with the otherwise usable, cargo space. The present application disc-loses. such an application ofv the invention', in an illustrative but not in a limiting sense.

Referring first to Figs. and 2, the improved seat bed structure is illustrated as being arranged along one side of an associated airplane, the usual structural and fusilage surface elements of which are designated respectively as It and [2. The improved structure comprises generally a seat or bed surface it, which is suspended between laterally spaced parallel side rails to and i8, and which is of sufiicient width and length to readily and comfortably accommodate an occupant lying in position lengthwise thereof. In addition, the structure defines a plurality of individual backs 20 and 22, the lower end of each back being secured to the seat sur face I 4 as indicated at 24 and the upper end of each back being detachably secured to a back rail 26. As shown, rails I8 and 26 are removably secured to the ribs ID by adjustable clamps 28. Clamps 28 are rigidly secured to the ribs I and may and preferably do take the particular form described and claimed in the copending application, Serial No. 554,204, filed September 15, 1944, now abandoned, by the present applicants and Milton Fetterly. On the other hand, as shown, the front rail [6 is supported by a plurality of legs 30, the upper ends whereof are pivotally connected to the rail I5 and the lower ends whereof are detachably engageable with fit ting 32 which are attached to the floor 3d of the associated plane. As will be understood, these fittings 32 may also serve as cargo anchor points.

Considering the above generally indicated ele ments in greater detail, the seat [4 may in the broader aspects of the invention be formed of any of a wide variety of material. Preferably, seat I4 is formed of a durable flexible material such as canvas. To enable the use of such material, spreaders 3b are connected between the side rails i6 and It at a plurality of points spaced lengthwise of the structure. As shown, the rear edge of the seat M is folded around the side rail 18, being provided with cutouts 38 to accommodate the spreaders, and the marginal edge 46 of the surface H3 being secured to such surface at a point spaced outwardly from the rail :8 by a substantial amount, for a purpose mentioned below. The connection between the marginal edge 40 and the body of the seat surface I4 may be and preferably is completed by stitching as indicated at 42.

Also as shown, the surface it is connected to the rail l6 looping the material therearcund and stitching as indicated at M. As is also indicated, the connection to the rail IE is interrupted at a plurality of points 59 to accommodate the legs 3t and the corresponding ends of the spreaders 36.

As in the case of the seat surface [4, the backs 20 and 22 may be formed of various materials, a flexible but sturdy material such as canvas being preferred. In the broader aspects, the backs may be either continuous or meshlike, meshlike constructions being preferred and two such meshed formations being illustrated by the respective backs 2i] and 22.

An important feature of the invention resides in making the previously mentioned connection 24 between the lower ends of the backs 26 and 22 and the seat surface [4 at a point which falls between the rails l6 and [8. This feature provides seat surface, of a depth, measured from the rail 15 which is suitable for seat purposes. Such a depth, as will be understood, is undesirably narrow for bed purposes. With the present construction, however, in which the upper ends of the backs 20 and 22 are detachably connected to the rail 26, these backs may be dropped down behind the seat surface it, thereby affording a bed surface having a width equal to the full spacing between the rails it and I8. Preferably and as shown in Fig. 41, the lower edge of each back is provided with an attaching tab 52, of double thickness, and stitched through as indicated at 54. The attaching tab 52 in turn is stitched as indicated at 55, to the seat surface it.

The upper end of each back 2ii-22 may be detachably connected to the rail 26 in various ways. As shown, the backs 2B are provided with side strips 68 which are turned over the rail 26 and which may be secured, as by a buckle $2 to corresponding short strips E l. This buckled con nection enables adjustment of the amount of slack in each back 20 aswill be understood, and also permits ready disconnection of each such back from the rail 25. Backs 22 may be similarly secured to the rail 26, and are illustrated as having three such connecting strips 68.

An important feature of the invention resides in giving the backs 29-42 sufncient height so that the head of the occupant is supported there by. In the case of backs such as 212, the occupants head may engage either the meshed or the continuous portions thereof. In the case of backs 23, head support is afforded by the upper cross strips 68.

An important but not always essential feature of the construction resides in proportioning the widths of the respective backs so that they register with the bays defined by the successive fuselage ribs 59. With such proportioning, such ribs are prevented from interfering with free flexing of the backs when in use.

In accordance with usual aircraft practice, the present structure is preferably provided with safety belts it, An important feature of the construction resides in securing the rear ends of these belts to the seat structure in such a way as to achieve a snubbing effect. More particularly, as is shown in Fig. 4, each safety belt portion 10 is turned around the rail i8, and its end is sewed to the seat surface it. As indicated, this connection may be effected by the previously mentioned stitching 56.

As illustrated, the upper ends of the legs 3*], which may be and preferably are formed of tubular stock, are provided with fittings 3b, which define short sleevelike portions 82, within which the rail 5 is received, the indicated construction being one in which rail 15 is freely rotatable Within each such sleeve 82. In the construction now being described, the respective sleeves 52 are provided with inwardly projecting bosses at which provide bearings to receive pins by which the corresponding ends of the spreaders 38 are connected to the rail It. The individual spreader legs 35 straddle the bosses 3 The other ends of the spreaders 36 are provided with fittings 9B, which define sleevelike portions 92, within which the rail i8 is freely rotatable.

It will be noticed that the spreaders 35 are illustrated as being of double construction, although the single construction of Fig. '7 may also be utilized. A particular feature of the invention resides in giving the spreaders 365 a downwardly bowed character, so that they do not interfere with free flexing of the surface E l when used as a bed. If, as is indicated in Fig. 1A, and readers 3'! are utilized, such spreaders may also 'selrve' as caps for" thera-ils 1 s a Such end 'spreaders may be -either bowed or-straight.

"In the present embodiment, thelower endscf the legs 30 are provided with fittings I; detachably secured thereto by through bolts I 02. The

bodyof each fitting, which 'maybe'formed; for

example; as a diecasting, defines-verticallyextending diametrically opposite slots"--Ii04, within whichlatches I06 are pivotallysecured by' pins "I08. Adjacent'the upper ends, the s-iots; I 04 are -ioined by anenlarged chamber H0; theupper end whereof receives the leg 30. Chamber *I-I I) also receives a compression spring I I2 which acts between the latches I 86 and urges the upper ends thereof apart. A limitto such separating movement. afforded, whenv the: fitting is inactive, by stop portions I I4, which2 are. disposed: to-engage the. lower end otithe ileg 3,0. Latchesli't are provided with finger portions I I6, which may be engaged to press the upper ends thereof, thereby separating the lower and hooked ends H8 sufliciently far to pass over the headed retaining element I which is rigidly secured to the base of the depressed floor plate 32. When so engaged the hooked portions H8 lie behind and in latching relation to the annular shoulder I32 provided on the retaining element I20.

The embodiment of Fig. 3 is illustrated as being a duplicate of that of Figs. 1 and 2 with the exception that in this case the rails I8 and 26 are supported, through triangular bracing members I34 by uprights I36. As in the first instance, however, rail I6 is supported by the associated legs 30. As will be understood, Fig. 3 illustrates the adaptability of the present constructions to locations other than those immediately adjacent an associated wall surface.

The embodiment of Fig. '7 may and preferably does duplicate the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 with the exception first, that in this instance the spreaders I40 are of single construction and the Spreaders I40 and legs 30 are provided with individual connections afiorded by sleeves I42 and I44, to the rail I6. The use of individual connections is advantageous for many reasons. For example, it enables an adjustment of the seat tension in the manner described and claimed in the aforesaid copending application. In addition, it enables a spacing between the legs which differs from that between the Spreaders. Such different spacing may be needed, for example,

to accommodate the seat structure to the locations of the floor fittings 32. In Fig. '7, also, the marginal edge 40 isadjacent the junction 24, which affords a somewhat more secure connection of the back to the seat.

The embodiment of Fig. 8 provides an adjustment of' the eifective depth of each seat. More particularly, in this embodiment, the lower end I55 of each seat back is secured to a loop of material I52 which passesaround the seat surface I4. By releasing the buckle 55-; loop 552 may be moved to bring the back I59 nearer to or farther from either one of the rails I6 and I8.

In utilizing the aforesaid structures, it will be appreciated that they may readily be applied to and removed from theassociated structure and that they may readily be converted for either bed or seat use, and that when not in use they may readily be folded to an out-of-the-way position. With particular reference to Figs. 1 and 2, as an example, it will be appreciated that the seat structure may be removed as a whole simply by releasing the leg fittings I00 from the floor 7 plates 32 and by releasing rails I8 and 26 from their associated wall fittings 28. I A11 installing operation is;of'course; justthe reverse. To con- -vert the*structure for. bed: purposes, it is only necessary-to:disconnect the backs from the rail 25 and allow them to fall down behind the sur- 'face l l. -Again, in folding the structure-' it is onlyneoessary-tc release fittings Elli! frornithe fioor'platesfl, whereupon the seat- Moan be swung upwardly to the positionof Fig. 2. F01- 'iowing suchswinging, legs Ifi'may be turned to the out-'of-the-way*position indicated in Fig. 2. Alternatively, with the: construction of Fig. '7, the legs 30 may either be turned tothe indicated positien orniay bedroppeddown so as to'hang vertically downwardly from the rail 16.

Although on lyseveral specific embodiments of "the invention havebeen desc'ribed in detail; it willbe appreciated that various modifications in the form; number, and arrangement of theparts may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a movable troop seat for vehicles having floor means, the combination of a member providing a seating surface, leg means for supporting the front edge of the seating surface on and above said floor means, means for movably supporting the rear edge of the member and permitting movement of the member between a normal operative position wherein the member provides a seating surface and the leg means is connected to the floor means and an inoperative position wherein the leg means is disconnected from the floor means, and releasable means for connecting the leg means to the floor means, said releasable means comprising a latch pivoted inside of the leg means on an axis transverse to the leg means and at the bottom end of the leg, spring means inside of the leg means urging the latch to operative position, said latch having an operating projection located above said axis for receiving force in opposition to said spring means to urge the latch to inoperative position, said latch having a projection below said axis for latching engagement with a suitable part of said floor means.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein said leg means includes a tube attached to the member and a fitting removably secured to the bottom of the tube and having an aperture in the side thereof, said latch being pivoted in said fitting and the operating projection extending through said aperture to the outside of the fitting.

.3. In a movable troop seat for vehicles having floor means, the combination of a member providing a seating surface, leg mean attached to the member for supporting an edge of the seatseating surface and the leg means is connected to j the floor means and an inoperative position wherein the leg means is disconnected from the floor means, and releasable means for connecting the leg means to the floor means, said releasable means comprising a pair of latches pivoted inside of the leg means on axe transverse to the leg means, spring means acting between the latches to urge apart the latch portion above the axes, said latches having finger portions lo-' cated above theaxes and projecting outwardly for receiving force in opposition to said spring means, said latches having hook portions located below the axes and projecting inwardly for engagement with a suitable part of said floor means.

4. The invention set forth in claim 3 including a headed retaining element mounted on the fioor means, said element having a head portion on top and a neck portion of reduced diameter below the top to provide a catch shoulder for receiving the hook portions of said latches.

5. In a movable troop seat for vehicles having floor means, the combination of a member providing a seating surface, leg means for supporting the front edge of the seating surface on and above said floor means, means for movably supporting the rear edge of the member and permitting movement of the member between a normal operative position wherein the member provides a seating surface and the leg means is connected to the floor means and an inoperative position wherein the leg means is disconnected from the floor means, and releasable means for connecting the leg means to the floor means, said releasable means comprising a latch pivoted inside of the leg means on an axis transverse to the leg means, spring means inside of the leg means urging the latch to operative position, said latch having an operating projection located above said axis for receiving force in opposition to said spring means to urge the latch to inoperative position, said latch having a projection below said axis for latching engagement with a suitable part of said floor means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 311,854 Roush Feb. 3, 1885 2,408,547 Bertschinger Oct. 1, 1946 

